THE F-SHARP CONUNDRUM Piano Solo - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1876890

‘THE F-SHARP CONUNDRUM’ is a short rhythmical composition. The left-hand repeats the same rhythm throughout (the rhythm is morse code ‘.-.’ which translates to ‘R’), whilst the right-hand provides harmony. Structurally the piece is in ternary form with a developmental section in the middle where the F-sharp is constantly repeated through continuity between the hands.



Harmonically, the first section revolves around a repeating ii-V-I (or similar chord progression). It is optional for the performer to play the second and fifth F-sharp as a longer note so that the morse code is aurally present. Throughout the piece the right-hand is limited to a maximum of four notes. The first half of the middle section starts with an F-sharp minor chord. In the following bars the highest note chromatically descends until reaching a cluster of notes all a semitone apart. The chords are based again on a ii-V progression. This chromatic concept is repeated in the next eight bars where the lowest note rises until it is at its highest point. The last part of the development expands on the F-sharp chromatically before moving towards the final section. This final section is a repeat of the first with the addition of a sustained note in the right-hand to add a melody.


The composition has been notated on one stave as this was the most efficient. There are no notated rests in between voice one and voice two to simplify the score and the performer should notice the sixteen semiquaver notes present in every bar. The melody in the last section was written in an ossia stave to remove itself from the rhythm.